Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

No, they do not require publication now. Those agreements were reached with the individuals concerned on the basis of and subject to the conditions I have outlined. Therefore, of course the taxpayers' interests are kept in mind by the Government in respect of delivering on all priorities, whether those mentioned in the programme for Government between parties or indeed any arrangements entered into with individual Deputies, the requirements for which are subject to the same criteria as applies to anyone else.

The Deputy refers to the fact that Deputies in their constituencies speak about the outcomes they are having. Any Deputy who supports developments in his or her constituency, whether in Government or in Opposition, is never too slow, no more than the Deputy, to demonstrate the influence he or she would claim to have had as regards making representations. That is entirely legitimate and above board, and we should not expect anything different from anyone else.

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